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[Eagle Soars]

In order to make the drying process go faster, I've almost always used my gas-powered leaf blower to get-r-done quickly.  Takes about 5-10 minutes and avoids most all water spot issues.  Problem is, it leaves some tiny little spots on the bike (oil from exhaust probably).  Too many crevices to dry by hand IMO.  I can then detail it sooner or ride sooner or just plain be done sooner (no, I'm not a Sooner fan) .  I've tried putting some types of filters over the end of the nozzle but they either reduce air flow too much or get blown off the nozzle, mostly both.

I've been looking into some of the electric cycle dryers, and am looking for opinions on ones guys have used and their likes/dis-likes.  I know I want filtered and heated air.

TIA,
UpChuck82

[muddypaws]

For 20 years I have been using my weed blower. Works great. I added a filter on the intake. Coat my $49. 

[Fired00d]

I've been using my electric leaf blower for years w/no problems. I also have a Bike Dryer that is small enough to travel with.

Now if you really want to go all out you can get one of these...

‘Air Force’ professional motorcycle dryer $229.99.

But we've found that the above dryer is the same thing that is used to dry pets and can be found a lot cheaper from pet supply stores...

Metro Air Force Commander Dryers $159.99.

(plus the second one would be my preferred color )

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[planenut]

I went and bought a shop vac from home depot that was on clearance.I installed the hose on the exhaust side.This is its only job and it works great.O by the way it was on sale for 40$.Great buy

Jon

[grc]

In order to make the drying process go faster, I've almost always used my gas-powered leaf blower to get-r-done quickly.  Takes about 5-10 minutes and avoids most all water spot issues.  Problem is, it leaves some tiny little spots on the bike (oil from exhaust probably).  Too many crevices to dry by hand IMO.  I can then detail it sooner or ride sooner or just plain be done sooner (no, I'm not a Sooner fan) .  I've tried putting some types of filters over the end of the nozzle but they either reduce air flow too much or get blown off the nozzle, mostly both.

I've been looking into some of the electric cycle dryers, and am looking for opinions on ones guys have used and their likes/dis-likes.  I know I want filtered and heated air.

TIA,
UpChuck82

Do you own a shop vacuum?  I use my Craftsman 16 gallon version with a dedicated hose that I purchased just for drying the bike (don't want all that dirt from the regular hose blown onto the clean bike).  Of course this only works with shop vacs that have an exhaust port you can hook a hose to.  Use the small diameter hose for better maneuverability and velocity, and you can add a crevice tool to concentrate the air flow even more.  Works as well as the dedicated dryers but isn't as portable depending on the size of your vac.  Best part is, you don't have another piece of equipment cluttering up the garage and you don't spend more money on another thing cluttering up the garage. 

I know plenty of folks use leaf blowers, but I personally do not like that idea.  With nothing to filter out the grit and chunks, you could be gradually sandblasting your finish.

Jerry

[Eagle Soars]

Thanks for the input so far guys!

Like I said, the leaf blower is no longer good for me, not on the $$$$$k bike.  It does a great job and blasts over 100+ MPH (I think).  I do have a shop vac, but it's been thru the ringer, and I HAVE to use it for other purposes.  I'm not gonna have 2 of them and don't trust using the one I have, even with separate hose, attachments, etc. on the new bike.  Don't want to spend the time cleaning it up each time I clean the bike.

While cost is always an issue, the bike cost a lot, add-ons cost a lot, taxes & insurance cost a lot, the old leaf blower cost a lot, my wife costs a lot...you get the picture.  I'm looking to have a bike dedicated dryer I completely trust as to what it's spewing out on the bike.

I saw the ones Fired00d listed, and even the 8HP model master blaster.  Just mainly wondering if anyone has experience with any of these, how well they work etc.

I saw an Air Shammy model for $107.77, looks very similar to the 4HP air blaster in specs, etc.
http://www.airshammy.com/index.html

TIA,
UpChuck82

[OhioDave]

Been using a low budget electric leaf blower for years, works like a charm.

[lilbear]

I purchased an Air Force Blaster "Sidekick" for quick cleaning and portability to go along with the Air Force Master Blaster, but the "Sidekick" works great and is small enough to fit in a saddlebag if so inclined, that I end up using it all of the time.  Works great and you never have to deal with hoses again. They have them at Custom Dynamics for $89.95 and I've seen them for a few dollars less at Daytona and Myrtle Beach Rallies.

[LarryB]

Im partial to this brand

[arcticdude]

We use the Air Force Blaster.  Heavily filtered air, so no chance of marking the paint with blown particles; good air flow and volume and heated to help truly dry it.

[Banana man]

I use the Air Force Master Blaster. It has two 4 H.P. motors that you can work
individually or together. When used together it will blow all the water off in about
five minutes, but you better be holding on tight to the hose!!!!


This is a REAL MAN"S dryer.


                                                Mark

[Guilty]

I use the Air Force Blaster, small and easy to store, simple to use, great results.

[opee6969]

I use a whole different approach. I haven't dried any of my bikes in years. I use the Mr Clean AutoDry Car Wash System and it works great. It uses a special soap along with a spot free rinse setting that filters out the impurities in the water that cause spots in the first place. Just 10 minutes in the sun and away you go. No blowing, sucking, or vacuuming lol. I think the system costs around $40 or so and then you just buy the replacement soap and filters as needed.

Opee

[Eagle Soars]

Im partial to this brand

Where does a guy get a set of those? 

Maybe I could trade the wife for that pair?     Sorry honey...just kidding!

[Eagle Soars]

Thanks for the input on the air blasters.  Good to hear from real folks that they actually work well.  I'll search on the Mr Clean system for more info.
Thanks,
UpChuck82

[BMF-110]

Mr. Clean worked good for me also except, on Sunday morning quick wash and run, not enough dry time and I'm getting rained on and spot drying at the first gas station. Used a small Shop-Vac supposedly for dads bike only until daughter cleaned her flooded car and overfilled (2gal.) getting water into the internals,yaaaaaaay. So to put an end to this Santa did some research and most MOCO's carry 2 brands 1 is the Air Force dryer for $99.95 and another model basically the same only all orange body for $49.95 but has been known to get hot and start on fire (not cool with fires in the shop Idea) according to the staff, Santa bitched at the staff(mildly) and received the Santa 10%,What luck! So to put all this in order the Air-Force dryer is the cats ass works really well, Feels like a-lot more air movement than my shopvac,small easy to store and really does a great job my vote is on the Air-Force.. Actually I forgot LarryB's system look much more streamline and boy I'll bet their isnt as much air flow but!!!!!!!!!!

[LarryB]

may smoke , but won't start on fire

[1abastarsmda]

I use Cycle Dry  http://www.ascendcreations.org/Cycle_Dry.htm  It doesn't have heat, but seems to work well.  I've never tried one with heat, so I don't know if the heat makes a difference or not.  This one is pretty inexpensive and I've seen several Harley dealers stocking them.  When I bought mine, I think it was $49.95 and it looks like they've cut the price now to $39.95.  I use mine on my car also, and I've kind of done a reversal of what some are doing...I have used mine as a leaf blower too.  They come with an extra set of brushes (the electrical kind), at least mine did, and I've used it quite a bit over the last 2 to 3 years and the only problem I had was one of the brushes jumped out of place somehow.  One screw to pull it out and put it back in straight.  So it didn't work for about 10 minutes while I scratched my head and then less than a minute once I figured out to take a screw out and put it back in.  Otherwise, it has worked flawlessly.

[LarryB]

That one has been for sale at many H-D dealerships. The advantage of the heat is it doesn't just blow the water off, it evaporates it. even a couple degrees warmer that ambient is good. I rarely use water on the bikes so blowers aren't that big of a thing. If I do, after riding in the rain or something similar, I use the Mr Clean system. then blow it off. any water spot is going away with wax. my main concern is getting the water off the motor/tranny.

[1abastarsmda]

That one has been for sale at many H-D dealerships. The advantage of the heat is it doesn't just blow the water off, it evaporates it. even a couple degrees warmer that ambient is good. I rarely use water on the bikes so blowers aren't that big of a thing. If I do, after riding in the rain or something similar, I use the Mr Clean system. then blow it off. any water spot is going away with wax. my main concern is getting the water off the motor/tranny.

Like you said, water is the exception, rather than the rule.  I think that's the biggest reason I don't like getting caught in the rain...from that moment I know I'm going to have to do a complete wash on the bike.

[SBB]

I use this 4 H/P dryer that also heats the air.

Mounted on the wall next to the door in the bike garage so I can use it outside also.

It came with a 15' hose but I went to Northern Tool and got a 20' extension.

35' gets me most anywhere I want to go.

Works great.

SBB

click on picture to enlarge.

[SBB]

Closer view.


 



click on picture to enlarge.

[Fired00d]

I use this 4 H/P dryer that also heats the air.

Mounted on the wall next to the door in the bike garage so I can use it outside also.

It came with a 15' hose but I went to Northern Tool and got a 20' extension.

35' gets me most anywhere I want to go.

Works great.

SBB

click on picture to enlarge.

Looks good only one thing could make it better...

Can you guess??

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[1abastarsmda]

Looks good only one thing could make it better...

Can you guess??

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Guess he needs to add some orange paint to that device.

[Fired00d]

Guess he needs to add some orange paint to that device.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[1abastarsmda]

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Well, my ex-girlfriend just called me to let me know that she thinks the colors on my new bike are ugly and that the gray stripe on the seat looks hideous, then she hung up.  Finally, she found something to say that really bothered me.  Oh wait, maybe that should go in the bad dates thread.

[Fired00d]

Well, my ex-girlfriend just called me to let me know that she thinks the colors on my new bike are ugly and that the gray stripe on the seat looks hideous, then she hung up.  Finally, she found something to say that really bothered me.  Oh wait, maybe that should go in the bad dates thread.

Don't sweat it... just chalk it up as another reason why she's the "ex".

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[1abastarsmda]

Don't sweat it... just chalk it up as another reason why she's the "ex".

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Didn't even get the chance to tell her not to worry, since she won't be getting to ride it anyway.  Wonder what ever happened to the deaf/mute gal I dated in college???  Okay, that's one that I forgot about and perhaps should expand upon in that other thread.  But I'm not sweating it...I do however find it pretty amusing at how low someone will go.

[Eagle Soars]

I use this 4 H/P dryer that also heats the air.

Mounted on the wall next to the door in the bike garage so I can use it outside also.

It came with a 15' hose but I went to Northern Tool and got a 20' extension.

35' gets me most anywhere I want to go.

Works great.

SBB

click on picture to enlarge.

That's a great idea to wall mount it.  I've got a perfect spot next to the garage door with power there already. 

Did the mounting bracket come with the blower?

What brand is it?

Lose much heat at that length of hose (or do you use heat settings), cause I'd need more hose also.  (I know this is open to many funny comments...let'r rip) 

Thanks,
UpChuck

[Eagle Soars]

Like you said, water is the exception, rather than the rule.  I think that's the biggest reason I don't like getting caught in the rain...from that moment I know I'm going to have to do a complete wash on the bike.

For me, it's the opposite.  I will wipe the bugs off, etc. sometimes after a ride if I've just washed it and/or detailed it before the ride.  I'm not cleaning it up after or before every ride I take.  It would cause me to want to ride less and less if I knew I'd be in for a clean-up afterwards.   Maybe it's just me?  I just go ahead and wash it every few weeks, which is why I want a dryer to get the water off (quickly).  It's made to get wet.  I'm just cautious around the inner fairing.

Thanks for all the input (and a little  )

[arcticdude]

Well, my ex-girlfriend just called me to let me know that she thinks the colors on my new bike are ugly and that the gray stripe on the seat looks hideous, then she hung up.  Finally, she found something to say that really bothered me.  Oh wait, maybe that should go in the bad dates thread.

Next time she calls, tell her you weren't real impressed with her "gray stripe" and that's why she's YOUR ex.  Then hang up on her.  You'll probably want to turn off your phone at that point, because, she's going to run the batteries down in hers trying to call you back.  Drink a cold beverage with your good looking new bike and laugh!  It's really fun f'n with 'em.

[1abastarsmda]

Next time she calls, tell her you weren't real impressed with her "gray stripe" and that's why she's YOUR ex.  Then hang up on her.  You'll probably want to turn off your phone at that point, because, she's going to run the batteries down in hers trying to call you back.  Drink a cold beverage with your good looking new bike and laugh!  It's really fun f'n with 'em.

Don't want to get her started again.  She's already done the 9am until about 3am non-stop hitting redial.  I would turn the phone off for an hour, and the second I would turn it back on, it was ringing.  Totally relentless!  I had a police officer that's a neighbor take one of the calls and he told her she needs to stop calling.  She told him where to get off too and told him that if I wanted her to stop calling that I would need to change my number.  So, again I say, I don't want to get her started again.

[arcticdude]

A go phone or a trac phone would take care of that. You could tell her you got a new number!  She's definitely one to have in the past!

[1abastarsmda]

A go phone or a trac phone would take care of that. You could tell her you got a new number!  She's definitely one to have in the past!

She'll find someone else to latch onto and then she'll forget about me.  I'm not playing musical phones and altering my life for her.

[GregKhougaz]

Best Cycle Dryers in the business:      

Boy do I miss.... that bike.

[REGGAB]

Husqvarna backpack style leaf blower.   

[aushog]

I'm partial to the 7520 that came with the bike. 






75mph for about 20 minutes and it's nice and dry.